In the eleventh year of Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, on the fifth day of October, the sun shone brightly on the earth.
Maybe it was because of the snow yesterday, and the light shining on my body made me feel extra warm.
At the end of Chenshi, in the eastern suburbs of Changping, in the camp of King Qin's army in Xuanfu Town, the camp of General Zhang Yan was quite lively.
But this kind of excitement is only limited to a small area in his camp. This is the group of refugees Zhang Cheng rescued.
Shizhu led more than a hundred men, chopping firewood back and forth. The meat was no longer boiling in the big pot, but pots of boiling water. The refugees lined up in batches to take a bath, and then put on freshly washed clothes.
On the other side, there are nearly two hundred women, organized by a strong woman named Su Zhenxiang, who have been washing clothes plucked from the bodies of the Tartars and refugees since last night, on the clotheslines at the edge of the camp. , full of them.
Scholar Wang Yuanjing led two people back and forth among the refugees, stopping one from time to time and asking what he was writing.
"General, Yuan Jing, this kid, is so hard-working now. He doesn't even look like a scholar, he looks like a different person." A slightly old, but energetic voice sounded in Zhang Cheng's ears.
"Haha." Zhang Cheng smiled, his tone became extremely cold, and he said decisively: "Everyone has to change. In such troubled times, if you don't change, you will die."
After saying that, he turned his head and asked, "Where are those two village elders now?"
Shi Tiegen pointed to a temporary tent erected not far away and said: "Back to the general, these Tartars killed all the old people in that village. Now the two selected village elders are resting in that tent for the time being. .”
Zhang Cheng stood where he was, with his hands behind his back, and said in a deep voice: "My father-in-law, I intend to transfer you to a certain farm in Xuan Town for temporary residence. We will resettle you after the war is over."
"It all depends on the general. The old man is willing to do his best to serve the general." Old man Shi Tiegen replied firmly.
Zhang Cheng stood up and walked to the tent in the distance. As he walked, he said to Shi Tiegen beside him: "Old man, before returning to Xuan Town, you will be responsible for controlling these people. Zhu Zhu and Yuan Jing will assist you. As for Those two village elders are just your helpers."
Old Man Shi followed Zhang Cheng and listened silently, as if he was thoughtful.
There were two old men sitting in the tent. They didn't look very old. When they saw Zhang Cheng coming, they stood up quickly and saluted each other: "I have seen the general."
Zhang Cheng looked at the two of them up and down. One of them was quite strong, with a beard all over his face, while the other looked a little thin, not that strong, but very clean. Judging from the looks of it, they should be under fifty years old.
They just stood there with their heads lowered, looking quite at a loss. The old man Shi Tiegen on the side quickly introduced: "General, this is Ma Zhongli, and this is Feng Yuanshan."
The two saluted Zhang Cheng again. Shi Tiegen next to him took a simple wooden stool, put it down and said to Zhang Cheng: "General, please sit down."
After Zhang Cheng sat down, he said to the two people: "Two villagers, please take a seat."
After the two of them sat down, they asked: "I don't know where the two village elders originally lived and how old they are?"
Ma Zhongli, who was quite stout and had a beard all over his face, said in a loud voice: "Come back to the general, I am from that mafang. I am forty-five this year."
Zhang Cheng nodded, turned to look at the slightly thin and clean old man, and saw him stand up again and said: "The old man is Mafangbei, from Tangcun, and he is forty-nine years old."
Zhang Cheng waved his hand and asked him to sit down. Before he could speak, Shi Tiegen, who was standing next to him, said: "General, Ma Zhongli is from Lao Mahu, and brother Feng Yuanshan is a famous farmer in the countryside."
Zhang Cheng nodded and said to them: "Someone intends to transport you and others out of Juyongguan and live temporarily in a certain farm in Xuan Town to avoid the disaster of the war. After this war is over, we will resettle you and others."
The thin Feng Yuanshan first said: "People like me, the young man, were supposed to be taken captive by the Tatars to the bitter cold land of Liaodong, to work as cattle and horses for the Tatars, and to be slaves forever. Fortunately, with the protection of the general's divine power, he not only rescued us from Even though we are suffering, now we are more willing to protect us, which is really a blessing for us. We are determined to follow the general, but it is up to the general to deal with it."
Ma Zhongli and Shi Tiegen hurriedly agreed: "Yes, yes, but it is up to the general to make the decision."
Zhang Cheng nodded and continued: "This war is entangled. I don't know when it will be over. I will send letters to you. I will wait until Xuanzhen is over and stay temporarily, repairing houses, digging canals, and reclaiming wasteland to prepare for work.
However, if things are not planned, they will not be established. If there are nearly a thousand of you, if there is no head, there will be chaos. A certain old man named Shi Tiegen will be the leader of the group for the time being, and you two will assist him. Wang Yuanjing will be the bookkeeper, and the stone pillars will be selected. There are one hundred and twenty people as guards, who work in peacetime, practice in their spare time, and go out when the police are called. The strong woman Su Zhenxiang manages a group of women, doing laundry, sewing, cooking and other tasks. What do you think? "
The three of them had no objections, and Zhang Cheng continued: "A certain association will send a group of sergeants to escort the wounded soldiers and the corpses of the dead soldiers. They will accompany you. Some of the captured horses and mules will also go back to Xuan Town.
Ma Zhongli was responsible for taking care of the mules and horses, and asked Na Su Zhenxiang to arrange for women to help take care of the wounded soldiers. When they arrived at Xuanzhen, they were ready to repair the canal. Please take care of Feng Yuanshan. There will be some armor and weapons. When the time comes, Shi Tiegen will lead the people to repair it. , can be allocated to columns for their use. "
All three people nodded and said "good".
Zhang Cheng stood up and ordered: "If there is a war, the officers accompanying the troops will make the decision. All other matters will be handled according to the division of labor. If there is anything undecided, you can discuss it publicly."
"I obey the general's orders." The three of them responded in unison.
At this moment, a soldier came to report that Commander-in-Chief Yang Guozhu sent someone to tell him that Governor Lu had just returned to the Changping camp and was going to collect the captured Tatar heads and prisoners and rush to report the victory to the Governor.
Zhang Cheng said to the old man Shi Tiegen beside him: "Ask Zhu Zhu and Yuan Jing to come over. I have something to explain."
After saying that, he ran towards the place where the Tatar heads were parked.
…………
Guo Yingxian shouted from afar: "Drunk maniac, how about another three hundred drinks tonight?"
"You have to wonder who is the alcoholic lunatic who grabbed me and refused to let me go last night." Zhang Cheng said with a look of contempt on his face.
When he came closer, he straightened his posture, bowed his hands and saluted, and said to Yang Guozhu: "How dare you bother the military gate to come in person? Just let me know and I will send it to you at the end."
Yang Guozhu said loudly: "General Zhang is unparalleled in his bravery. He completely defeated Jiannu and captured such a large number of people. I have greatly promoted the power and morale of the army. I believe that the governor will be happy when he hears about it."
Zhang Cheng replied respectfully: "This achievement is all due to the blessing of the army, not the contribution of the last general alone."
Yang Guozhu nodded in approval, and couldn't help but think in his mind: "Now that King Qin has entered the Wei Dynasty, this son has not only changed his mind a lot, becoming calm and polite, but now he also has the merits of the first battle. His achievements in the future may be limitless."
Zhang Yan next to him said at this moment: "Military gate, don't keep the governor waiting for a long time."
Yang Guozhu patted his forehead with his hand and said with a smile: "Brother Zhang, nephew Cheng, I will report my victory to the governor right now, so that he can be happy as well."
"In this case, there is Laojunmen." Zhang Yan answered with cupped hands.
At this time, three large carts loaded with salted Tartar heads had arrived. Yang Guozhu took a look and said loudly: "These Tartar heads will be sent to the governor to report the victory. As for the prisoners, It’s better to hold this place first until the governor makes a decision.”
The soldiers had already brought Yang Guozhu's war horse. He got on his horse, turned around and said, "My sincere nephew, please rest assured. I will definitely not let others take advantage of your military exploits."
Zhang Cheng hurriedly raised his hands and replied: "Everything depends on the military."
Watching Yang Guozhu and Guo Yingxian leave, Zhang Yan said softly to Zhang Cheng: "You shouldn't have contradicted Li Jianming like that last night. That guy was very insidious and will retaliate. I can't protect you forever, so why should you."
"The world is in chaos. If we are always kind to others, how can we protect ourselves? Even the military exploits we exchanged for our lives are remembered by others. Why are we fighting? How can we be worthy of our brothers who died in the war? No matter who wants to harm me, take my sword first!"
Zhang Cheng looked firmly at Yang Guozhu and others who were gradually retreating, and answered vigorously and forcefully.
Then he said to Zhang Yan: "Uncle, Cheng'er went to visit the wounded soldiers in our unit."
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he turned around and left.
Zhang Yan was a little silent. He looked at Zhang Cheng's retreating figure and felt that he could not understand his nephew more and more. He felt that he had gone too far, but he couldn't tell what was wrong.
Zhang Cheng's words just now rang in his ears again, and he trembled, as if he was deep in thought. He didn't know what Zhang Cheng would do in the future and where he would take the Zhang family!
…………
Zhang Cheng was walking on the way to the wounded soldiers' tent when Shi Zhuzhu and Wang Yuanjing rushed over. Zhang Cheng slowed down and chatted with them as they walked.
"Zhuzi, I am very satisfied with the people you have chosen. Let them follow you for the time being. I will arrange some old troops to train you and others." Zhang Cheng told Shi Zhuzhu.
Shi Zhuzhu looked unhappy and said in a loud voice: "I won't go to Xuanzang, I will kill the Tatars with the general."
Zhang Cheng felt angry and funny at the same time. This stone pillar was really good, and his body was excellent. He had practiced martial arts when he was a child. Over the years, he had been working with his father, and his bones were getting better and better as time went by. It was like being made from iron.
However, fighting for one's life on the battlefield requires more than physical strength alone. Such a good young talent cannot be wasted, so Zhang Cheng enlightened him: "Can the Tatars be killed in one go? You want to kill a Tatar?" Still want to kill a hundred or even a thousand Tatars.”
Shizhu scratched his head and muttered: "I want to kill a hundred or a thousand Tatars."
Wang Yuanjing, who was standing next to him, said with a smile: "Courage in blood is what a reckless man does."
Shi Zhuzhu's two big eyes were as wide as two small lanterns, but he didn't have any seizure. The two of them were often together these days, and Shi Zhuzhu always pestered the scholar and asked him to tell stories about ancient people's marches and wars.
But the scholar was so focused on reading the books of saints that he didn't know so much. He eagerly told Shi Zhuzhu all the allusions he had read in the past one by one, and even taught Shi Zhuzhu how to write his own name.
"I heard it. The scholar's words are true. The battlefield is a killing field. It's not something you can do with great strength. You, one hundred and twenty people, must practice hard. You will be of great use in the future."
Shi Zhuzhu seemed to understand and replied: "Yes, I will listen to the general."
Zhang Cheng shook his head helplessly and said to Wang Yuanjing: "Yuanjing, you have to work harder. These people have to make a household register. Their names, ages, origins, kinship relationships, specialties, etc. must be written down. .”
Wang Yuanjing nodded and said: "General, please be at ease, Yuan Jing will definitely live up to his command."
"He will also bring some supplies back to Xuan Town for you to keep and use. He will also arrange for sergeants to assist you."
In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the tent where the wounded soldiers were, and Zhang Cheng asked the two of them to go back.
